TRENTON, N.J.—Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes, Freeholders and representatives from the Greater Trenton YMCA will gather on Monday, May 4 at 2 p.m. to celebrate the County’s open space preservation acquisition of the YMCA’s Camp Meta at the camp property on 9 Iron Bridge Road, Hamilton.

The land was donated to the Y by Meta Griffith of Griffith Electric Co. in the early 1970s. The property is 30 acres along the Crosswicks Creek and will provide passive recreational opportunities as part of the Crosswicks Creek Greenway. The purchase price was $768,300 and the property was officially transferred to County ownership on April 3.

The preservation of this greenway parcel will link the Greenway from Exxtonville Road to several preserved properties extending past the Hamilton YMCA to the preserved Sawmill Estates property. From Exxtonville Road to North Crosswicks at Church Street, Mercer County has preserved for public open space 334 acres of stream corridor for the Crosswicks Creek Greenway. The Camp Meta property was preserved because it is an important node along this linear park.

For 35 years, Camp Meta provided outdoor recreational opportunities that have enriched the lives of many young people. The significant contributions the Griffiths have made to Mercer County, specifically their donation of this property to the Greater Trenton Area YMCA, will continue to be recognized by Mercer County.

Mercer County is preserving land, and plans to create trails and amenities for passive recreation, along the Crosswicks Creek. Although the Greenway is still in the early planning phase, when this property is improved for passive outdoor public recreation, Mercer County pledges to work with the Griffith family to determine how best to honor the Griffith name on this portion of the Greenway.